Manhattan Couple Plans Special Trip with $20,000 Lottery Win

Valerie and Tony Coltharp were
both surprised when Valerie scratched off a $20,000 win on a Bonus
Crossword instant ticket.

"I feel guilty. It should have
been Tony!" said the Manhattan woman. "He's the one who plays all
the time, while I stand there, bored."

The fact that it was Valerie who
won wasn't the only surprise for the Coltharps. When they arrived
at Lottery headquarters today they thought Valerie had uncovered
nine words, for which she would have won $2,000. Lottery
officials gave them the good news. They had miscounted and Valerie
had actually uncovered ten words, giving her a top prize of
$20,000, not $2,000.

"The lottery receptionist asked
me if I knew what I had won. When she told me it was $20,000, I
said, '$20,000 dollars?' I was in shock, and still am!"

The Coltharps' big win is a
small joy at a difficult time. Tony has been fighting cancer for
half a dozen years and recently was diagnosed with end-stage lung
cancer.

"We can't go too far away from
his doctors," said Valerie, "But we definitely want to take a
special trip to somewhere close by, somewhere Tony really wants to
go. This prize is like a gift from God. We wouldn't be able to plan
a trip if it weren't for this money."

The Coltharps have five grown
children between them, plus seven grandchildren and one on the
way. Their lucky ticket was purchased at Short Stop 12,
located at 2010 Tuttle Creek Blvd. in Manhattan.

For more information on games,
promotions, winning numbers, and unclaimed prizes, or to join the
free Kansas Lottery Players Club, visitwww.kslottery.com.